To amend the Act of June 18, 1934, to reaffirm the authority
of the Secretary of the Interior to take land into trust for Indian
tribes.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

March 30, 2011

Mr. AKAKA (for himself, Mr. CONRAD, Mr. FRANKEN, Mr. INOUYE, Mr. JOHNSON
of South Dakota, Mr. KERRY, Mr. TESTER, and Mr. UDALL of New Mexico)
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to
the Committee on Indian Affairs

A BILL

To amend the Act of June 18, 1934, to reaffirm the authority
of the Secretary of the Interior to take land into trust for Indian
tribes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. MODIFICATION OF DEFINITION.

(a) Modification-

(1) IN GENERAL- The first sentence of section 19 of the Act of June
18, 1934 (commonly known as the `Indian Reorganization Act') (25 U.S.C.
479), is amended--

(A) by striking `The term' and inserting `Effective beginning on
June 18, 1934, the term'; and

(B) by striking `any recognized Indian tribe now under Federal jurisdiction'
and inserting `any federally recognized Indian tribe'.

(2) EFFECTIVE DATE- The amendments made by paragraph (1) shall take
effect as if included in the Act of June 18, 1934 (commonly known
as the `Indian Reorganization Act') (25 U.S.C. 479), on the date of
enactment of that Act.

(b) Ratification and Confirmation of Prior Actions- Any action taken
by the Secretary of the Interior pursuant to the Act of June 18, 1934
(commonly known as the `Indian Reorganization Act') (25 U.S.C. 461 et
seq.), for any Indian tribe that was federally recognized on the date
of that action is ratified and confirmed, to the extent that the action
is challenged based on the question of whether the Indian tribe was
federally recognized or under Federal jurisdiction on June 18, 1934,
as if the action had, by prior act of Congress, been specifically authorized
and directed.

(c) Effect on Other Laws-

(1) IN GENERAL- Nothing in this Act or the amendments made by this
Act affects--

(A) the application or effect of any Federal law other than the
Act of June 18, 1934 (25 U.S.C. 461 et seq.) (as amended by subsection
(a)); or

(B) any limitation on the authority of the Secretary of the Interior
under any Federal law or regulation other than the Act of June 18,
1934 (25 U.S.C. 461 et seq.) (as so amended).

(2) REFERENCES IN OTHER LAWS- An express reference to the Act of June
18, 1934 (25 U.S.C. 461 et seq.), contained in any other Federal law
shall be considered to be a reference to that Act as amended by subsection
(a).